Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell signed new legislation Wednesday that streamlines the permitting process for transit expansion paving the way for light rail in the Washington city.
The legislation streamlines the permitting process for Sound Transit expansion into Ballard and West Seattle. Seattle’s city council adopted the light rail transit facilities land use code amendments last month. The new legislation is part of Harrell’s vision to safely and efficiently deliver light rail to Seattle and builds on one of his executive orders issued in February.
“Voters overwhelming approved the Sound Transit 3 expansion in 2016, and we have an obligation to deliver light rail on time and within budget. Seattle is fully committed to taking every available step to partner with Sound Transit and support this work, and this legislation to reduce permitting time is an important step forward,” Harrell said. “Light rail expansion is a generational investment in our region’s future and the largest transit expansion happening in the country. We cannot – we will not – squander this transformative opportunity and let red tape get in the way of real progress.”
Harrell’s office said the legislation amends the city’s land use code to simply and streamline development standards and permitting process for the entirety of the Ballard and West Seattle light rail projects. The goal of the legislation is to cut permitting time down to 120 days, approximately half of the average 240 days it previously took. The revised code implements a tree and vegetation management plan, as well as improves pedestrian and cyclist accessibility, and creates a more efficient appeals process, officials said.
“Sound Transit and the City of Seattle have taken an important step toward keeping the West Seattle and Ballard Link Extensions on track,” King County Executive Shannon Braddock said. “This kind of collaboration benefits the entire region as we work to expand Link light rail.”
The Ballard Link Extension will add 7.7 miles of light rail connecting downtown Seattle to Ballard with nine new stations, a second transit tunnel and a Salmon Bay crossing. The extension is expected to be completed by 2039. The West Seattle Link Extension will add 4.1 miles of light rail from downtown to West Seattle with four new stations and a bridge over the Duwamish River. That project is expected to be complete by 2032.